Edited clip used to claim Kannada actor Duniya Vijay denigrated Darshan Thoogudeepa

What’s the claim?

A 59-second video allegedly showing Kannada film actor Duniya Vijay speaking to the media has been circulated with claims that he made derogatory comments about actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who was recently arrested in connection with a murder case. 

In the video, a reporter asks Vijay about personal comments made against him. Vijay responds, stating he was unaware as he was busy shooting. He then mentions Darshan, remarking, “He himself has two wives and four children. He lacks conscience…,” followed by offensive language, warning against discussing his family or personal life.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared the video with the caption, “JUSTICE FOR RENUKASWAMY #BoycottCriminalDarshan #HandOverMurderCaseToCBI.” The accompanying text translates from Kannada as “Duniya Vijay reprimands Darshan and his vile supporters.” The post garnered 30,800 views and 600 likes. An archived version of the post can be viewed here.

The hashtag #JusticeForRenukaswamy gained traction on social media following the arrest of Darshan, accused of the murder of Renukaswamy, purportedly a fan of the actor. Karnataka police have arrested 17 individuals, including Darshan, in connection with the murder. According to police records and a report from India Today, Renukaswamy was killed for allegedly sending derogatory messages to actor Pavitra Gowda, a close associate of Darshan and reportedly his partner. The case remains under investigation.

Darshan’s arrest sparked debates on social media, with demands for a fair investigation and justice in the murder case. The video of Vijay has since circulated, purportedly condemning Darshan's actions.

Screenshot of the social media post. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the video of Vijay has been edited.

Here are the facts

Upon close examination of the video, at 0:06, when Vijay mentions Darshan’s name, his lip movements do not match the audio, suggesting potential editing.

A reverse image search led to the longer version of the video released by Kannada news channel TV5 Sandalwood on YouTube (archived here) on August 23, 2019. Titled “Duniya Vijay Shocking Reaction on Ravi Belagere | Duniya Vijay | Ravi Belagere | TV5 Sandalwood,” the video begins at 0:16, where a reporter asks about comments on Vijay's family matters. At 0:21, Vijay responds, “Who, Ravi Belagere? He only has two wives and four children.” The viral clip appears from 0:16 to 1:26, with the substitution of ‘Ravi Belagere’ for ‘Darshan.’

NewsFirst Kannada also reported on Vijay’s remarks, clarifying he addressed journalist and author Ravi Belagere, not Darshan.

According to the entertainment portal Kannada Filmi Beat, Vijay addressed Belagere during a press conference for the Kannada movie 'Badva Rascal' on August 23, 2019. 

During the media interaction, Vijay responded to the reporter’s question by asking, “Is Ravi Belagere still alive? He has two wives and four children.” The report also notes that the verbal dispute between Vijay and Belagere began during the production of Vijay's movie ‘Bheema Thieradali,’ after Belagere alleged that the film's storyline was plagiarized from his book ‘Bheema Tirada Hantakaru.’

The evidence confirms that Vijay’s statements were directed at Belagere, not Darshan.

The verdict

A five-year-old video of Duniya Vijay criticizing journalist Ravi Belagere for comments about his personal life has been edited to falsely imply he disparaged actor Darshan Thoogudeepa.